Optical channelizer for W-band detection

Abstract

An optically-downconverting channelizer is disclosed for W-band detection. The channelizer includes an input waveguide configured to carry an inputted signal having a plurality of wavelengths including a desired wavelength and a plurality of ring resonators arranged in parallel and coupled at spaced apart locations along the input waveguide for receiving the inputted signal, wherein each of the plurality of ring resonators is configured to pass a selected wavelength signal to an output end. The channelizer further includes a control waveguide that carries a second signal having a wavelength that differs from the desired wavelength by a predetermined amount, and a plurality of detectors coupled to respective output ends of the ring resonators, the plurality of detectors configured to produce channelized RF output signals representative of desired RF bands.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for signal channelizing comprising:
 receiving, by an input waveguide, an inputted signal having a plurality of wavelengths including a desired wavelength, wherein the inputted signal comprises a single carrier signal; 
 filtering the inputted signal through each of a plurality of ring resonators to pass a selected wavelength signal to a respective output end, wherein the plurality of ring resonators are arranged in parallel and coupled at spaced apart locations along the input waveguide for receiving the signal; 
 receiving, by two control waveguides, two signals having wavelengths that differ from the desired wavelength by a first predetermined amount and a second predetermined amount respectively; and 
 producing, by a plurality of detectors, channelized RF output signals representative of desired RF bands, wherein each of the plurality of detectors is coupled to a respective output end of one of the ring resonators and to one of the two control waveguides. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inputted signal comprises inputted RF signals modulated onto the single carrier signal. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desired wavelength is a wavelength of the single carrier signal. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined amount is different from the second predetermined amount. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the two control waveguides are coupled to distinct subsets of the plurality of detectors. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the frequency range of the channelized RF output signals is smaller than the frequency range of the inputted RF signals. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of detectors is configured to produce a channelized RF output signal by heterodyning the signal from the control waveguide to which it is coupled with the selected wavelength signal from a respective output end of one of the ring resonators. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by one or more additional control waveguides, one or more signals having wavelengths that differ from the desired wavelength by predetermined amounts, 
 wherein at least one of the plurality of detectors is coupled to each of the one or more additional control waveguides and is configured to produce a channelized RF output signal by heterodyning the signal from the control waveguide to which it is coupled with the selected wavelength signal from a respective output end of one of the ring resonators. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desired wavelength comprises a W-band wavelength. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second predetermined amounts comprise at least 75 GHz. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the ring resonators includes a plurality of rings. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ring resonators comprise micro ring resonators. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising creating the inputted signal for the input waveguide by modulating, by an optical modulator, an inputted optical carrier signal with a received signal. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the inputted signal by the input waveguide, filtering the inputted signal, receiving the two signals by the two control waveguides, and producing the channelized RF output signals occur on a single chip. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the two signals received by the two control waveguides are from at least a source distinct from the input waveguide.